Pastor’s Newsletter

We need to be wise not in our own eyes, but seeking wisdom from the Father above. Seeking His Word to dictate how we should expect to interact with the God who loves us and sought us and bought us with His own Son’s blood. I want to encourage you to be like the Bereans and discern from God’s Word if someone’s teaching is of God or of self. Many people will take a piece of scripture and then begin to try and convince us of some doctrine or false teaching they have come up with based on the scripture. A few examples, I will give in a short fashion (non-exhaustive answers):

Must I be able to speak in tongues in order to have the Holy Spirit in me?

Some teach that the Holy Spirit is a “second blessing” that upon receiving the Holy Spirit you will break out into speaking in tongues as the 120 men in Acts 2 did when the Holy Spirit came upon them. They teach that unless you speak in tongues, the Holy Spirit doesn't indwell you. Which is problematic to say the least. The scriptures say in Romans 8:9, “You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.” If we are to believe that tongues are required for the Holy Spirit to be indwelling us, then we must also believe we aren't a Christian or Christ-follower unless we speak in tongues. However it is unbiblical to teach that all will have the gift of tongues. 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 makes it clear that the Holy Spirit doesn't give everyone the same spiritual gift, but only gives to whom He choses the particular gifts. Also in 1 Cor. 14:18 that Paul spoke in tongues more than they did. So speaking in tongues can not be a standard for whether the Holy Spirit lives in you, or whether your are saved. Especially since the gift of speaking in tongues was to eventually (and I believe has already) come to an end (1 Corinthians 13:8-10).

God Loves You And Wants You To Be Well!

Some teach that God’s goodness and love requires that you be able to be healed. They link healing with faith, if you have enough faith you will be healed. I do see that Jesus linked faith with healing, for example in Mark 9:23, “And Jesus said to him, ‘All things are possible for one who believes.” Jesus said that this Father could have his son healed of demon possession if he only believed. I do not dispute that faith in Jesus was a requirement to be healed by Jesus and His Disciples. However there is an incorrect view that everyone got healed when Jesus walked through the crowd of people. Many were believing what they saw and heard, and yet some were healed, while others were not. John 5, only records one person (in the midst of the multitudes who were disabled) got healed that day. There is no reason from the scriptures to assume that anyone else got healed that day. The critics might say, “well he was the only one who believed!’ To which I would respond, “You are telling me they saw a man lame for 38 years get up and walk and they didn't believe?” What an illogical assumption.
Why did God the Son heal? We need to understand that scripture teaches that the healing was for the Glory of God, not because God wanted to spear someone of pain or anguish. As harsh as that sounds it is the truth, The Father and the Son were to receive glory from the healing. In John 9:3b, Jesus responding to his disciples questions as to why a man was born blind, Jesus response was, ““but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” Also in John 5. especially in v. 36, Jesus teaches that these miracles of healing were to testify concerning who God the Father and God the Son are, and that we might learn of them. But how can we know that all people who have faith to be healed, are not guaranteed this side of Heaven to be healed? 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, we understand there is a physical injury that Paul has suffered. He prayed 3 times for it to be removed and Christ’s answer was no! He wanted Paul to be humbled. God doesn't promise healing, but we do find that even when we suffer and we seek the Savior, His promise is, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9.

I could tell you of examples of people who desired God to do a healing here on Earth. Of parents who sought healing for their children only to hear the Lord in silence say, “no”. We can not assume God to be some computer that is bound to function with in a written code. We can not assume that God will always react the same way. However we can praise God, that He is Good and His promise is that we will be united with Him for eternity in a place incalculably greater than this, in bodies that will not decay. All of this is possible because of the shed blood of Christ on the Cross. Amen!

Be a Berean kind of Believer, search the scriptures to avoid being misled.

God Bless,

James Blake, Pastor